The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/178977
(Mich.) High as a four-star prospect in the class of 2009. Then, he was a safety, starting seven games at the position in 2010 in totaling 51 tackles and two pass breakups before transitioning to linebacker to start in week eight against Penn State. In six games to finish the season, Gordon notched 26 tackles, including 2.5 for loss. Still, he never felt at home, and in 2011-12, backing up Ryan, the 6-3, 237-pounder eased into the role and responsibilities slowly, while always longing for the chance to make a bigger difference. When Ryan went down in the spring, Gordon was the first man up — Beyer would be moved from rush end to strongside linebacker midway through the spring — and he earned his coaches' confidence with the way he attacked every practice and every workout. In August, his Wolverine teammates showed just how much they respected Gordon by naming him one of three defensive captains. "It's been an honor to represent this team," he said. "I feel it's my duty to give all I have. Those guys look up to me, and I appreciate everything they're doing and what we're doing as a team." Starting at strongside linebacker in week one, Gordon looked a lot like Ryan, recording two sacks on blitzes among 2.5 tackles for loss. "It was great for me to see," said quarterback Devin Gardner, a highschool teammate of Gordon's. "On pass rush this offseason I saw him working so hard. He's my roommate, and he gets to talk to me about how it was hard for him to not play and he finally got a chance. "Two sacks in a game is pretty good. I don't play defense, but if I got sacked